Refinement just reward for O'Neill

Refinement gave Jonjo O’Neill deserved compensation for a miserable season when putting her experience to good use in landing a runaway victory in the Paddy Power Champion INH Flat Race at Punchestown this afternoon.

The second of two Grade One events on the card, the race looked to be at the mercy of Cheltenham victor Missed That but he fluffed his lines and could only manage a disappointing fourth place.

Refinement, though, barely put a foot wrong and after fourth placings behind Missed That and The Cool Guy – who also reopposed today – at Aintree, she strode away purposefully to score by nine lengths.

Alan Berry had taken up the running aboard the six-year-old, sent off at 6-1, approaching the turn for home and sporting first-time blinkers she readily put daylight between herself and her rivals.

The Cool Guy flew down the home straight to make it a British one-two with Nicanor a further four lengths back in third.

“It was grand,” said O’Neill. “Alan gave her a great ride and you can never be certain what will happen if you go to Aintree and Cheltenham.

“She has been unlucky in her last couple of runs as things haven’t gone quite right.

“She is a bit of a lady so we thought some blinkers might help.

“We have schooled her over hurdles and she doesn’t have that much scope which is not the best but she’ll have no choice but to run over them next season.”

Reflecting on a year which saw his stable ravaged by the virus, O’Neill added: “I needed that. Alan did a brilliant job. Three champion jockeys have ridden her (Tony McCoy, Kieren Fallon and Barry Geraghty) and got her beat so I thought I would put on the lad who knows her best!”

The Cool Guy’s trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said: “He got no luck in running and perhaps would have won otherwise.

“He showed that he is a seriously good horse. He’ll now have a holiday until November and we’ll go long-distance hurdling.”

Missed That found little under pressure and looked a beaten horse two furlongs out.

“I was disappointed but I had him really wound up for Cheltenham and he wasn’t as wound up today,” trainer Willie Mullins said of the 5-4 favourite.

“I thought he was fit enough but he can’t have been because he didn’t win.

“Jamie Codd had him in the best position all the way round. These things happen and we haven’t decided what to do next.

“He could run over hurdles but I’d quite like to send him chasing. We will have to sit down and talk about it.”

Barry Geraghty followed up his scintillating win on Kicking King in the feature Guinness Gold Cup by scoring for Mullins in the S.M.Morris Ltd Handicap Chase.

Mullins had come off second best in the big one with Rule Supreme but the trainer and jockey gelled with Jasmin D’Oudairies (14-1) for a five-length win.

O’Neill’s Grand National third Native Emperor made smooth headway to track the leaders heading out of the back but he weakened turning for home, leaving Mullins’ charge to deny Kymandjen by five lengths.

“He is closely related to yesterday’s bumper winner (It’s A Dream) and has always threatened to win a big race,” said Mullins, who went on to land a double when Livingstonebramble obliged in the Masterchef’s Hospitality Novice Chase.

Stutter won his first race of the season just three days from the finish of the Irish campaign when gifted the Blue Square 1800 905050 Handicap Hurdle.

I’ll Call You Back was well clear heading to the final flight but his crashing fall left the 8-1 shot in front and he went on to score by five lengths from Native Stag.

Winning trainer John Carr said: “He ran a bit flat in his prep race but today was the plan.

“The handicapper might put him up a bit now but if he is on a reasonable weight he might go for the Galway Hurdle.”

Stutter’s victory gave the Carberry family a notable treble with jockey Philip following on from wins by both his brother Paul and sister Nina yesterday.

Blazing Liss, sent off the 15-8 favourite, signed off her career with a stylish win in the Bewleys Hotels European Breeders Fund Mares Hurdle.

The six-year-old overcame a massive blunder two flights from home to capture the Listed contest by two and a half lengths from recent Ayr winner Mags Benefit.

“Hopefully she is in foal to Flemensfirth and if she is that will have been her last race. If not we will have to make other plans,” said trainer John Kiely.

“Her mistake gave us a bit of a shock but she won well in the end.”